All posts in “Cedar Falls Iowa”

Sidecar Coffee’s Pour Over Workshop

According to an article on OrganicFacts.net coffee has several health benefits. Benefits range from improving cognition and increase metabolism to improving heart health and protecting your liver. Now we’re not experts on health or coffee but knowing there are some great benefits from our favorite morning beverage just makes us want to drink it more.

So when we heard about an amazing event at Sidecar Coffee we were all in. Held on March 2^nd at 10 am the Pour Over Workshop will teach you how to make the perfect cup using a pour over method. Co-Owner Andy Fuchtman (CHP Past President and current Board Member) said their “top reason [for hosting these workshops] is we want people’s coffee to taste better, and to build our local community of coffee fans.” Who doesn’t want their coffee to taste better? And who doesn’t want to meet new people while learning? Our friends and coffee experts are going to teach this method using the Hario V60. Love coffee and want to learn more about it? Be sure to grab your tickets online by clicking here. Your $30 ticket includes a bag of Sidecar Coffee’s March Costa Rica beans to use at home. You will also have hands-on experience learning from one of the experts at Sidecar Coffee. They tell us spots are limited so make sure to grab your ticket today. This workshop will be hosted at the Sidecar Coffee’s Roaster at 325 Commercial Street, Downtown Waterloo.

Whatever your reason for drinking coffee you aren’t going to want to miss this awesome workshop to learn more about how to make the perfect pour over cup of coffee.

February 22, 2019 / Comments Off 1933

UNI Presidential Scholars Take on Bystander Training Development and Bring it to College Hill

History of Sexual Assult Bystander Training

According to Rainn.org, “College Women are three times more likely to experience sexual violence.” A group of UNI Presidential Scholars is creating a project and implementation of a sexual assault bystander training. This training was originally started by the partnership of UNI graduate students and The Riverview Center. Over recent years, many bystander trainings have been created and used in areas adjacent to Universities. “Raise the Bar” a program to help train local bar staff was developed at the University of Iowa and implemented in local Iowa City bars. After researching similar programs a new program was crafted to use locally in the Cedar Valley.

According to BJS.gov, the Midwest region has the highest rate of sexual assaults in the nation. With stats like these, the current momentum around the #MeToo movement, and the passion of Presidential Scholars to help resolve problems affecting the community it is no wonder a group of this year’s scholars would take on the challenge of implementing this bystander training. Programs such as these help address the growing problem of sexual assault and misconduct. They are able to do so by creating awareness.

Program Created for the Cedar Valley:

Before winter break the UNI Presidential Scholars Think Tank Safety Group presented their project and plans to the College Hill Partnership. This group is composed of six sophomores. The Board of Directors voted to put their full support behind the project and the student’s efforts. The CHP Board of directors was impressed by the research and professional presentation the students gave at their December board meeting.

These six college students told the Partnership they wanted a safety-focused project. Much of their preliminary efforts were collecting statistics regarding assaults on campus. They have been identifying what factors (such as alcohol) play into these assaults. The group obtained Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Training over winter break and will have further training over the 2019 Spring semester. So they have also developed a partnership with the NISG. They believe this partnership will ensure the project’s longevity. Because of the close proximity to the University and its popular nightlife establishments, the group felt College Hill is would be a great place to test the new bystander training program. Already several bars have already signed on for the training. College Hill bars include Little Bigs, Social House, and The Other Place on the Hill.

Students Hope for Project:

“Our main hope for the project is to decrease the number of sexual assaults that happen at UNI. We hope by providing the bar employees with the necessary tools to potentially intervene in a situation that these numbers will decrease. The group also hopes that training will continue over the following years as there is a high turnover among bar employees.”

The College Hill Partnership is excited to have a group of passionate students. And are happy they chose to start to implementation of their project on the Hill. The group hopes for success on the Hill. After the Hill they hope the program will spread to other nightlife districts.

Students Involved in Training:

Grace Brady (Elementary and Middle-Level Education Major from West Des Moines, Iowa).

Anne Gradoville (Communication Sciences and Disorders Major from Des Moines, Iowa).

Laura Kaufmann (Accounting and Organizational Leadership Major from Harlan, Iowa).

Triet Ngo (Marketing Management Major from Hanoi, Vietnam).

Carter Stochl (Biology and Biochemistry Major from New Hampton, Iowa).

Jordan Weber (Family Services Major from Wadena, Iowa).

Please contact the CHP Executive Director if you are interested in learning more or having your business host training. Graphics are courtesy of UNI Presidential Scholars THINK TANK Safety Group.

February 1, 2019 / Comments Off 2157

Open Call for CHP Board Members

Calling All Leaders in the Cedar Valley

The College Hill Partnership is entering into our 11th year as a combined organization. This year brings many exciting opportunities and challenges for the Hill. We would love for you to be directly involved. Help us shape the future of the College Hill District by representing our community and unique stakeholders. We would like you to serve on our board of directiors.

Board Seats Going Up for Election:

(2) 2-year at large seats

(2) 3-year at large seats (will be awarded to top two at large vote winners)

(1) 2-year member representing owners of residential rental properties (Landlords) within the College Hill Overlay Zoning District

And (1) 2-year member representing businesses within the College Hill Overlay Zoning District

Contact Us

Considering the job? Check out CHP Board of Directors Member Duties, and CHP Board of Directors Commitment Form to learn more about being a College Hill Partnership Board Member. Most seats will be a two year appointment.

If you would like to serve? Then please head to https://www.collegehillpartnership.org/board-member-application/ and complete the board member application. Applications are due by Friday, March 8th 2019. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the Executive Director via email or phone (319)-273-6228. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Do you know someone who might be interested? Share this post via, text, email, or social media. Thank you for your consideration and your help in making College Hill an amazing place.

January 24, 2019 / Comments Off 1918

Donuts, Brownies, Cheescake. OH MY! Icon Donuts & Sweetery Opens on the Hill

Donuts, Brownies, Cheescake. OH MY! ICON Donuts & Sweetery Opens on the Hill

Open just in time for the spring semester ICON Donuts and Sweetery is the perfect start to your school or work day. We headed in after lunch the other day to give you a peek inside and of course try some of their amazing donuts. ICON is locally owned so you will see some familiar faces there who always greet you with a smile. The staff is ready to help you with the perfect selection of sweets for any occasion.

Our executive director grabbed a dozen donuts including some of their ICON donuts. If you love lemon you need to grab a Liz Lemon named after Tina Fey’s character on 30 Rock. They have all your favorite traditional donuts. Plus their awesome selection of ICON donuts, named for artists, characters, musicians, and famous people.

Just to name a few:

Liz Lemon
Raspberry Beret
The Dude
Queen Bee
Strawberry Fields
The Godfather

Donuts aren’t your thing that’s okay because they have many more sweets. From sticky buns, cinnamon rolls to cannoli and fritters. They even have vegan and gluten-free options. Have a special party and need a tray of treats ICON Donuts and Sweetery has you covered from cheesecake to danish even cookies. Obsessed with ICON? They’ve got t-shirts, mugs, and to-go cups to show the world your love for ICON!

Icon Donuts and Sweetery are currently hiring. Click here to fill out an application. Look to their website for more details. We encourage you to swing by their location on the Hill. Located at 917 West 23^rd Street right next to Greenhouse Kitchen. Or their location in Waterloo located at 1730 W Ridgeway Ave #600. Don’t forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for daily photos of their amazing selection. Another great reason to #HeadtotheHill.

January 18, 2019 / Comments Off 2300

Annual College Hill Tree Lighting 2018

Join us for our annual tree Holiday tree lighting. Meet us in Sharky’s & Milkbox patio for music and a tree lighting. A big thanks to JoDee from Subcity in helping us get the perfect tree for this Holiday Season. We are excited to have some Cedar Falls students sing some holiday carols for us prior to lighting the tree. Make sure you bundle up and bring a friend.

Tree will be lit a 7pm stay tuned for exciting events to follow at your favorite College Hill establishments.

Head over to Sharky’s to warm up before the lighting for Eggnog and Hot Chocolate
Head into Milkbox for a festive holiday celebration after the lighting
And don’t forget to join us Dec 3-14th for our 12 Days of Hill-iday Cheer. Each day one College Hill business will be hosting a special event, promo, or special just for you during this holiday season. Thanks to the participating businesses: The Shakery, Mohair Pear, Copyworks, Subcity, The OP on College Hill, College Hill Partnership, Hill Street News and Tobacco, Balance Hot Yoga, Chad’s Pizza

November 24, 2018 / Comments Off 1821

Open Forum: Seerley Park Improvements

The College Hill Partnership invites you to an open Public Forum to discuss and share ideas about how to improve Seerley Park. Please join us in the McElroy Room at the Cedar Falls Hearst Center (304 W. Seerley Blvd), on Saturday November 17^th at Noon. Bring your ideas, concerns and questions regarding the park.

Some ideas people have mentioned to improve Seerley Park through our survey are:

Little Free Library
Regular Live Music
Drinking Fountain
Public Art
Restrooms
Moving Shelter
Better shelter that can be used for multi-purposes
Summer events (Dancing/physical activity, movies, music)
Tell us what you want to see happen with Seerley Park in the comments

If you are unable to attend and would still like to voice your opinion please consider filling out our Neighborhood Services Survey HERE, or email our Executive Director at collegehillpartnership@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!

November 5, 2018 / Comments Off 3238

College Hill Gift Certificates

Did you know that the Hill has gift certificates?

Created by the College Hill Partnership, College Hill gift certificates can be purchased by cash or check at Copyworks on the top of the Hill (2227 College Street) and can be used at over 30 locations on the Hill. These gift certificates are perfect for holiday gifts, birthdays or even for the avid UNI fan. The gift certificates come in increments of $20 and NOW $5. They are great for anyone who spends a lot of time near the Hill. Pick up your College Hill gift certificates today.

NEW FOR THE 2022 CHFM SEASON!! Now you can use the College Hill Gift Certificates at the College Hill Farmers Market! And NOW purchase your CH Gift Certificates at the Cedar Falls Visitors Center.

Not currently accepting CH Gift Certificates at the following locations (List updated March 2021):

Tales Untold Tattoo, Wild Hair Salon, Insomnia Cookies, Third Eye Tattoo, Domino’s, Asian Tuna

October 11, 2018 / 1 3111

8th Annual Pear Fair on College Hill in Cedar Falls

8^th Annual Pear Fair – On College Hill in Cedar Falls, Iowa

The Pear Fair is a curated showcase of the very best in local and regional handmade craft and design. Founded by Mohair Pear in the spring of 2010, we wanted to introduce our customers to the artists who make the handmade gifts we carry along with new and unique crafters and artists from Iowa and the Midwest each year.

The eight annual Pear Fair open air indie craft fair will be held Saturday, September 15th, from 11:00am to 5:00pm, on the corner of 22nd and College Streets, in “Cedar Falls Municipal Lot G,” right next door to Octopus.

For more information check out The Pear Fair Website.

or on Instagram!

2018 Vendors

CRAFTY SATURDAY

Sewn baby items like shoes, bibs, burp cloths, blankets, and handcrafted jewelry and home decor. 2 year vendor, Dubuque, Iowa.

HARLAN’S EMPORIUM OF THE CURIOUS & BIZARRE

Jenna and Cori, the creators of Harlan’s Emporium of the Curious and the Bizarre, have been making jewelry for 9 years. They travel throughout the Midwest sharing our aesthetic. The approach to their work is informed by a deep love for and appreciation of the Victorian era, a fascination with steampunk, and a devotion to whimsy and curiosity. They love to experiment with new designs. Everything they create is a one of a kind unique piece.

SMALL FOX STUDIOS

Small Fox’s functional pottery incorporates whimsical imagery, pattern, and color to amuse and delight the user. They incorporate flowing lines, candy colors, and texture elements into my ceramic service ware, encouraging exploration through use. The characters that star in the work dwell within fanciful floral landscapes, which activate the form and provide a sense of movement and place.

SUNSET SKATE

Is a Cedar Falls company, run by John Potter who makes handcrafted old school style skateboards, longboards, wall art, and misc. woodworking crafts. Most are built from recycled lumber or locally grown lumber.

Location: Cedar Falls, IA

Materials: New Materials, Natural or Found Materials, Upcycled, Recycled, or Repurposed

Facebook

TRADEMARK LETTERPRESS

Trademark Letterpress Co. is a new brand design studio and letterpress company in Waterloo, Iowa. They design and print letterpress greeting cards, stationery, and paper merchandise which are printed on 100% cotton paper with the use of a vintage 1963 Heidelberg or 1887 Golding Pearl platen letterpress printing press.

WHOA NELLI

At Whoa Nelli they create home cleaners and skincare products that perform beautifully for people who want goods they can feel good about.

EVERLEE CREATIVE

Everlee Creative creates beautiful handwoven wall hangings, woven home decor, fiber art jewelry.

THREE WITCHES & MAGPIE ALCHEMY AND ARTS

Psychic readings using Lenormand cards and pendulums. Intuitive readings, totem animals, and handmade gemstone jewelry. First year vendor, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

THE VELVET THUNDER SHOP

The Velvet Thunder shop is a jewelry, crystal, and art shop run mostly online from Evansdale, IA by Christy. Starting in 2016 The Velvet Thunder Shop has made crystal jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, keychains, and more. Christy also sells other arts and crafts such as hair pieces, makeup/pencil bags, clothing, paintings, drawings, and photography prints. We also sell crystals for display, new and old collectors, and altars.

BOHO GYPSY GAL JEWELRY

Handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, earrings with a boho flair.

PRAIRIE CLOTH COMPANY

Prairie Cloth Company specializes in hand made, eco-friendly items for your home! It all started with a decision to cloth diaper our daughter. From there they started making us all sorts of reusable items: wool dryer balls, cloth napkins & unpaper towels.

ZHANNA’S JEWELS

Zhanna’s Jewels has been creating, upcycling, repurposing and reimagining jewelry and curiosties since around 2013. Come see the latest creations…crowns, wands, treasure boxes and who knows what else.

SQUIDDIE ARTS

As a native CedarFallopian and veteran Pear Fairer, Kimberly makes fun stuff! She creates sock & yarn creatures. She also handbuilds and throws a variety of ceramic creations that are whimsical & functional. This year she is adding wearables!

JUST BUZZIN ART

Original mixed media paintings and screen printing by Jared Breyfogle’ from Parkersburg IA.

ULTRATERRETRIAL

Ultraterrestrial is a small shop run by Becca Kacanda out of Milwaukee, WI specializing in colorful and unique decorative vinyl stickers, pinback buttons, greeting cards, and patches. She is inspired by the 80s, mysticism, music videos, cartoons, textile design, and folk art from around the world.

Materials: New
Location: Dubuque, IA
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/ultraterrestrial
Instagram: @ultra_terrestrial

NO COAST PAPER CO.

No Coast Paper Co., Madison WI., offers a variety of greeting cards for every occasion but has a prominent focus on humor, minimalism, feminism and the lgbtq community.

Materials: New
Location: Madison, WI
Website: nocoastpaperco.com/
Etsy: etsy.com/shop/nocoastpaperco
Instagram: @nocoastpaperco
Facebook: facebook.com/nocoastpaperco/

NICOLE & DIME DESIGNS

From Des Moines, IA Nicole & Dime Designs specializes in creating hand-made, one of a kind, statement jewelry.

VANEZZAWITHTWOZZS

VanezzaWithTwoZZs brings a fantastic mix of vintage + modern to freshen up your jewelry collection. Her handmade creations are derived with vintage pieces & new metals. Styles both old & new come together in every piece to provide a unique look for years of enjoyment.

Materials: New, Thrifted, and Vintage
Location: Des Moines, IA
Years as a Pear Fair Vendor: 1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanezzawithtwozzs/
Instagram: @vanezzawithtwozzs

QUICKSILVER DESIGNS

Everyday jewelry handmade in Ames, Iowa. Pieces are made with sterling silver and electroformed copper.

Quicksilver Designs offers affordable handmade jewelry for any occasion. From sleek sterling silver pieces to copper and raw stone jewelry, find your next go-to accessory!

Materials: New, Natural, Found
Location: Ames, IA
Instagram: @byquicksilverdesigns
Facebook: facebook.com/QuicksilverMakesThings

PALOMA

Rose Montalvo is a Milwaukee based creative whose thoughtfully-designed Paloma bags and wallets are hand crafted from upcycled leather and vintage textiles. Paloma is inspired in large part by nature, her Iowan roots and Mexican heritage.

ECHO JEWELRY & GIFTS

Hand-painted glass pendants, graphic design bubble necklaces, upcycled jewelry and gifts using game pieces, dice, comic books, metal gears, pressed flowers and more.

OH MY HEAVENS

Oh My Heavens is out of this world. They are bringing astrophotography framed, matted, and metal to Pear Fair.

TOASTLESS

Toastless specializes in unique handmade gifts. Started in 2014 by Cecelia Hotzler, Toastless is your place to find something a little different. From paintings to tooth ornaments, there’s something for everyone and every occasion.

Instagram: @Toastless
Facebook: www.facebook.com/toastless
Etsy Shop: www.toastless.etsy.com

MIDCOAST DESIGN

Midcoast Design brings women’s accessories: turbans, wire headbands, and scarves.

MOM & DOTS

Mom and Dots designs hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind children’s apparel, toys and quilts from Cedar Rapids.

PIPPA MOON STUDIO

Pippa Moon Studio creates alternative process photography, mixed media, painted photos, from Cedar Falls.

ARMFUL OF WOOL

Naturally hand dyed yarn for busy hands and full hearts. Natural dyes on 100% American grown and milled fibers including Alpaca, Merino and Domestic wool. Establishing a dye garden on a corner of our organic farm in Waverly.

MARY LOUISE TEXTILES

Mary Louise Textiles started as an avenue in her studio practice to make wall hangings, rugs, embroideries and clothing. She believes that there should not be such a strict delineation between fine art and craft, as they are one in the same. Art should be accessible to everybody, and the creation of textiles goes back to our essential human nature.

FLOURISH

Flourish means to grow in a healthy way, especially in the result of a particularly favorable environment. This is exactly what Esther & Dee want their works to encourage you to do. They will have some beautiful handmade plant holders, frames and so on created by Dee and also some watercolor prints, stickers, and signs created by Esther.

WILDSKY STUDIO

Wildsky Studio is currently making collage and mixed media works, that incorporate painting into the pieces. They use materials found from nature as embellishments, and all collage items are found as well. Wildsky Studio is out of Cedar Falls.

KETTLE ART

Handmakes wood Figures & paintings.

ARCTIC SUMMER HANDMADE

A past Pear Fair vendor, Arctic Summer’s handmade work includes Hemp bracelets, anklets, and necklaces; knit baby, kids and adult hats; knit scarves, headbands and reusable grocery totes.

ELAMENTS

Elaments offers an assortment of semiprecious pendants, keychains, necklace chains, and more. You can choose from an inventory of pre-made items, or she can give you a card reading and choose special items just for you based on the reading. Simple, beautiful items, handcrafted with love and a touch of magic.

KESALI CREATIONS

Sells nature-inspired jewellery and dreamcatchers. Hand carved mushrooms, feathers, samaras, acorns, and more.

TECHNO LUMNIA

Creates stickers, art prints/posters, buttons, original painting, Techno Lumina Starter Kits.

LA CALLE LATIN AMERICAN FOOD TRUCK

MILKBOX BAKERY

Make sure you stick around the Hill until 6:30pm-9pm for the College Hill Partnership’s Oktoberfest. Several SingleSpeed Brews will be on tap, Chad’s Pizza is sponsoring a beard contest, La Calle will have an Oktoberfest Special, and there will be yard games and music. #HeadtotheHill for OKTOBERFEST 2018.

September 13, 2018 / Comments Off 1708

The Beauty of Seerley Boulevard, Cedar Falls Iowa

Guest Blogger: Sabine Martin

Each May, Seerley Boulevard offers a breathtaking view of vibrant pink blossoms five blocks long, from Olive Street to Clay Street, but, these iconic crabapple trees have not always been part of the landscape.

1900’s

In the first decades of the 1900s, Cedar Falls looked very different from what it is now. A trolley system ran through Cedar Falls streets as the main public transportation. The tracks ran south from downtown on Main, west on Seerley to campus, north on College Street, east on 18th Street and north on Walnut Street. The trolley service ended in Cedar Falls in 1941, and it was replaced by buses.

1940’s

On Seerley Boulevard, which was called 24th Street before it was renamed in 1943 after UNI’s second president, what used to be trolley tracks left a median strip in the middle. But city officials were not quite sure what to do with it. In 1948, the median strip was narrowed to make lanes on Seerley wider for buses.

1950’s

In 1954, there were petitions to widen Seerley even more and “hard surface the grassy strip between Olive and Walnut” for more parking, according to the Waterloo Daily Courier on March 7, 1954.

But two citizens objected to paving over the boulevard’s grassy strip, and instead suggested that the city widen the street four more feet on each side for parking. That idea won, and the grassy median strips remained.

1960’s

By the early 1960s, flowering crabapple trees were added to the grassy median, creating a stunning display each springtime. According to a Waterloo Courier story from 2008, “The project wasn’t the easiest to do, as they had to dig down through old cinders from the rail line.”

Norm and Mimi Zischke have lived on Seerley Boulevard for 53 years and are very familiar with the crabapple trees. “They were much prettier when we first moved here in 1965 because they were fuller and in their prime of life. The bloom was more profuse,” Norm said. “There were street lights all along Seerley Boulevard with a big cast iron base and a globe that was enchanting. You would come home at night, and Seerley Boulevard would welcome you.”

The old street lights are gone, but the flowering crabapples still remain. “The crabapple trees are about at the end of their life. They have been trimming them for a long time. I think that they are beautiful for one, maximum two weeks, but then the other 50 weeks they look awful,” Zischke said.

Nevertheless the city of Cedar Falls is still maintaining the crabapple tree tradition.

“The city prunes the trees as necessary and will replace them if they die,” said Mark Ripplinger, Director of Municipal Operations and Programs of Cedar Falls.

(Map Courtesy of Cedar Falls Historical Society).

June 19, 2018 / Comments Off 2311

College Hill Farmers Market 2018 Season KICK OFF

Join us for Opening Day of the College Hill

Farmers Market on Thursday, June 7th from 4-6pm.

College Hill Farmers Market Runs June-October. Vendors at the market will offer seasonal produce, fresh herbs, flowers, healthy snacks, fresh bread and much more. Enjoy live music from Octopus Lounge, purchase hot foods from LaCalle, support the rain barrel art project (From 3pm-8pm on College Street from West 22nd Street to West 23rd) hosted by Americorps, enjoy face painting from the Hearst Center and more . This special market event will take place on College Street.

Various payments including EBT and FMNP vouchers are accepted. For updates about the College Hill Farmers Market like/follow them on Facebook at College Hill Farmers Market and Instagram/Twitter (@Collegehillfm)Want to express your creative side, for a good cause? Volunteer to paint a rain barrel!

DETAILS on Rain Barrel Painting:

AmeriCorps is hosting a rain barrel auction in June, but we want more than a boring, blue, barrel, blech! We’re looking for artists to volunteer their time to paint a rain barrel to make it unique and decorative!

During the first College Hill Farmer’s Market, with speakers, La Calle, face painting, activity booths, and cornhole games! Watch artists paint the barrels live, along all of College Hill.

Homeowners will bid on the painted rain barrels during the week of College Hill Arts Festival (June 11th – June 17th), and the proceeds will go towards paying for barrels, converter kits, and helping AmeriCorps fund more conservation programming. For more info head over to the AmeriCorps Event on Facebook. We’d love for you to join us on a regular basis at the College Hill Farmers Market.

June 5, 2018 / Comments Off 2656